The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island awarded seven students with scholarships Friday morning during the group's weekly meeting, with more recipients being awarded this week.
Carlyn Herring, the chairperson of the scholarship committee, told the students and their parents Friday morning that the club works all year long to raise money for the kids, which includes scholarships for students. She said the Kiwanis Club has given away a total of $13,000 this year.
"We couldn't be more proud of each and everyone of you," she told the recipients.
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MEGHAN MCCOY
Nancy Cote, Caleb Davis, Tiffany Tolley, Adrienne Smith, MaKenzie Honc, Dulce Castaneda and Courtney Frahm were awarded a scholarship from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island. These students were recognized during the Kiwanis Friday morning meeting at Bert’s Bar and Grill.
Herring said the scholarship process includes an interview with each one of the applicants, which she said was an honor for her.
"You'll should be really proud of the young adults her today," she told the parents.
Those students include Caleb Davis, Dulce Castaneda, Tiffany Tolley, Nancy Cote, MaKenzie Honc, Courtney Frahm and Adrienne Smith.
Once the students were called to the podium to receive their certificate and instructions about their scholarship Friday morning, they were asked to share a little about themselves, along with what they plan to study in school.
Davis, who is in his third year at Edison State College, is in the nursing program. Upon graduation he hopes to work in the surgery room.
Castaneda, who graduated from Mariner High School, plans on majoring in pediatric nursing because she loves working with children. She said she hopes to travel after college to help communities with fewer resources.
Tolley said due to her huge love for animals, she is going to pursue a career in that field. She currently is a veterinarian assistant and is working towards obtaining her veterinarian tech certification.
Honc, a recent graduate of Bishop Verot High School, will be attending Florida State University to study art history with a minor in French. She said she hopes to be a museum curator one day.
Frahm, a recent graduate of Ida Baker High School, will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University. She plans on majoring in art and minor in business with the hopes of working with Nickelodeon Studios as an animation artist.
Smith will travel to Massachusetts in July to study criminal justice before going to law school. When she arrives she said she will be working for the non-profit organization From Cradles to Crayons, which helps families who cannot buy backpacks and school supplies for their children.
Cote, who received the El-Don award, thanked the Kiwanis for the scholarship because it meant that she could graduate in January with a bachelor's degree in technology management with a focus on human resources. She said she chose that degree because it will allow her to help others.
Cote's husband, who is veteran, is the reason why she is going to school, she said.
